Inside the 2026 CBCA Shortlist

INSIDE THE CBCA 2026 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2026 have been announced from the Notables list. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, at PaperbarkWords blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Congratulations to those […]

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) Into the Mouth of the Wolf written by Erin Gough is shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers. Congratulations on Into the Mouth of the Wolf being shortlisted by the CBCA, Erin, and thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog. Author […]

Emily Rodda Interview: Landovel & other books

Emily Rodda Interview: Landovel & other books Landovel is published by Allen & Unwin 2025 CBCA Notable Books “There’s more than one way to be a hero”. (Landovel: The Truth Teller) Congratulations on Landovel, your three-book fantasy masterwork, being announced as a 2025 CBCA Notable and thank you for speaking with me, Emily. I’ve read […]

How to Survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight

How to Survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight (Simon & Schuster) “ ‘There’s a lot more buildings in 2025,’ I said to Julia as we walked along the Quay to the bottom of George Street. It was such a weird feeling, like the twenty-first century was a kind of hologram hanging over the 1980s.” (How […]

Inside The CBCA 2025 Shortlist & Winners

INSIDE THE CBCA 2025 SHORTLIST & WINNERS The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2025 have been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, at PaperbarkWords blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Congratulations to those creators who […]

Meg Rosoff and Almost Nothing Happened

Meg Rosoff and Almost Nothing Happened Published by Bloomsbury Author interview with Meg Rosoff ‘Eurostar was showing a twenty-minute delay, which was perfect because if I didn’t get something to eat before I boarded the train I’d have to eat my own liver. I joined the queue for a sandwich with my mate, Moe, and […]

Our World Full of Wonder by Jevita Nilson, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Our World Full of Wonder by Jevita Nilson, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft Published by CSIRO Publishing “There is a place filled with all this wonder: our world, our home. Shall we go explore?” (Our World Full of Wonder) Author Interview with Jevita Nilson Thank you for speaking about your picture book Our World Full of […]

Secret Sparrow by Jackie French

Secret Sparrow by Jackie French Secret Sparrow by national treasure Jackie French (HarperCollins Australia) has just been shortlisted for the 2024 ARA Historical Prize alongside Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim(Allen & Unwin) and Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams (Pantera Press) in the Children and Young Adult category. The winner will […]

The Robbery Written and illustrated by Joaquin Camp

The Robbery Written and illustrated by Joaquin Camp Picture book published by Berbay Publishing “The plan was very simple: Thief 1, Thief 2 and Thief 3 would dig a tunnel … and rob a bank at night.” (The Robbery) The Robbery tells a surprising tale about three thieves. They look similar but have distinct personalities […]

Imagine a Time by Penny Harrison & Jennifer Goldsmith

Imagine a Time by Penny Harrison & Jennifer Goldsmith “Imagine a time when all the world STOPS, when all of the clocks no longer TICK-TOCK. And all of the maps are starting to fade, as the need to be somewhere drifts far away.” (Imagine a Time) (Imagine a Time is published by New Frontier Publishing) […]